On the move, the first thing you notice about the new STi is the ride quality, which is frankly dreadful. There was a time when Imprezas would glide across rough surfaces in a manner similar to a Lotus Elise. Not any more. Which is a pity, because at a stroke this seriously limits the car’s appeal.
Once you’ve accepted that comfort plays little part in the STi’s dynamic repertoire it is a stunning machine to drive, though not one that’s as good to listen to as its more charismatic predecessor.
No matter: the new engine may not sound as exciting as the old one but in every other way it moves the game on. Low down, especially, it’s now seriously responsive, so even if you put your foot down at 2000rpm in fifth the pick up is almost instant and the acceleration suitably strong.
As ever, though, it’s only when you take the car by the scruff and metaphorically throw it down the road that the most appealing side of the STi’s character reveals itself. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but the fact remains there are few cars on this earth that can stay with a well-driven Impreza STi – and the new car is quantifiably faster than any production Impreza that’s gone before.
Statistically it’s only a small bit quicker than the previous model; 0-60mph takes 5.1sec and 0-100mph 12.6sec, each slight improvements. But on the road the combined might of the extra mid-range go and the monumentally grippy tyres mean the new STi would leave the old one for dust over a winding B-road.
For a lot of the time it was raining when we tested the STi and we can vouch for the extra wet-road grip offered by those new Bridgestones. At the same time, however, the stiffer suspension the new diff set-up means there is more understeer on a greasy road. Just occasionally it feels as if it wants to go straight on and there’s nothing you can do to stop it other than shed speed, rapidly. Which, it must be said, is a task the big Brembo brakes dismiss with ease.